Striking by Night

Messerschmitt Bf 109

The single-engine Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the most common German fighter aircraft of the Second World War. Introduced before the war, its performance and armament made it a dangerous adversary. Many were used as night-fighters against Allied bombers, particularly over target areas in free-ranging Wilde Sau (wild boar) operations. Their heavy cannon fire was lethal.

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6

Manufacturer

Messerschmitt at Regensburg-Obertraubling

Type

Fighter

Wingspan

9.92 metres

Length

8.84 metres

Engine

Daimler-Benz DB 605A engines of 1,475 horsepower

Armament

One 20-millimetre or 30-millimetre cannon and two 13-millimetre machine-guns

Crew

One

Colour scheme

This is the last example in the world still displaying its original camouflage and markings: a 1944 day-fighter scheme, with variations resulting from service repairs and replacements.